What is Stressed Skin? Signs, Causes, and Management Tips

Even with a consistent, targeted skincare regime, skin can still behave in unpredictable ways. So, if you’re experiencing more dryness than normal, unprecedented breakouts, or bouts of facial redness – it’s possible you’re experiencing signs of stressed skin.

Anyone can be affected by stressed skin, and it’s a key indicator that it might be time to recalibrate your usual skincare habits. Stressed skin can be aptly described as unbalanced skin, so it’s important to approach any subsequent skin concerns with gentle products that nourish and support your skin’s defence system.

Below, we’ll be exploring how stress can affect skin, common triggers that can dysregulate the skin, and the best products for stressed skin.

Stressed Skin Causes And Preventative Tips

What is stressed skin, and what causes it?

Stressed skin is skin that manifests internal and external stressors as visible skin concerns.

Stressed skin is a temporary state triggered by the body’s stress response to what it perceives as a threat. These ‘threats’ tend to be a mix of physical, emotional, or environmental triggers:

• Internal stimuli – Chronic emotional stress, diet, dehydration, and a lack of sleep.
• External stimuli – UV damage, pollution, weather conditions, and harsh skincare products or ingredients.

“We can think of stressed skin as being in a state of hypervigilance,” explains Brittany Hanchard, Lancôme’s National Skincare Expert. “It’s much more affected by internal and external stimuli than it typically would be.”

How stress affects skin: 5 common signs of stressed skin

There are a variety of stress-related hormones that can have differing effects on the skin, so stressed skin tends to present differently for everyone.

However, there are several common hallmarks of stressed skin, including:

• Increased sensitivity and facial redness
• Tightness, dryness, or other signs of skin dehydration
• More prominent fine lines and wrinkles
• Dull, uneven skin tone
• Recurring breakouts

Read on as we delve into these signs of stressed skin.

Redness and heightened sensitivity

Generally, if you have a specific skin type, you may be predisposed to related skin concerns.

For instance, if you have sensitive skin, stressed skin can often present as heightened sensitivity. So, you might experience sensitisation from new or different triggers such as warm temperatures, pollen allergies, caffeine, or even emotional stress. You might even notice that your skin is suddenly sensitive to skincare products that it typically tolerates.

Signs of sensitive stressed skin can include persistent redness, tightness, increased dryness, tingling sensations, and more general discomfort. When this happens, it’s crucial to prioritise skincare for sensitive skin.

Tight, dry, dehydrated skin

You may be familiar with the all-important skin moisture barrier – the outer layer of your skin responsible for maintaining moisture. Your skin moisture barrier is packed with protective proteins and lipids which keep your skin looking plump and feeling hydrated. However, both internal and external stressors can trigger transepidermal water loss , which impairs its ability to function normally and hinders its ability to retain moisture. This can lead to dehydrated, stressed skin which may feel tight, uncomfortable, and prone to flaking.

Common stressors to the skin moisture barrier include emotional stress, poor sleep, extreme weather conditions, pollution, UV damage, harsh cleansers, over-exfoliation, and the over-use of active ingredients.

Visible fine lines and wrinkles

One of the main skin stressors associated with visible signs of aging is UV damage, which can increase the number of free radicals in the skin. When free radicals outnumber antioxidants, this imbalance triggers a process called ‘oxidative stress’ – a major contributing factor in visible skin aging.

When your body feels other kinds of physical or emotional stress, it releases a stress hormone called ‘cortisol’. Elevated cortisol levels can impact collagen production and skin elasticity, which can accelerate visible aging concerns1 and exacerbate the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

Dullness

It’s common for stressed skin to also appear dull, tired, or uneven in skin tone. When the skin experiences periods of stress, it has a range of knock-on effects: such as slower skin cell turnover, dehydration, and oxidative stress. These factors all culminate in a lacklustre appearance and loss of visible radiance.

Breakouts

Increased breakouts are a common characteristic of stressed skin. Cortisol can cause a domino effect that impacts sebum production, leading to excess oil, clogged pores, and blemishes. We also know that high stress levels can impact the skin’s natural cell turnover, which can make it more difficult for the skin to renew itself. You can identify stress-related blemishes based on where they appear on the face – which is primarily oily T-zone.

How to manage stressed skin

The most effective way to manage stressed skin is to minimise your exposure to life’s stressors and introduce comforting skincare products that help rebalance the skin.

Below are several strategies to help you get started.

• Simplify your routine and avoid potent ingredients: For now, it’s best to dial back usage of potent ingredients like retinol and chemical exfoliants. Stick to a gentle cleanser like the Crème Mousse Confort Face Cleanser, which cleanses and softens skin without removing essential moisture.
• Use a targeted serum to hydrate your skin: If you’re experiencing dry skin due to stress, we recommend incorporating the Génifique Ultimate Serum, which hydrates the skin, targets visible redness and fine lines, evens skin tone, and improves overall skin quality.
• Nourish skin with a moisturiser: Stressed skin often suffers from a weakened skin moisture barrier, so your moisturiser plays an important role in protecting and rebalancing skin. For a gentle option, we suggest the Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Rich Cream – a non-comedogenic moisturiser specifically designed to de-stress skin.
• Eat a balanced diet and keep hydrated: De-stressing skin from the outside requires a tuneup within. Be sure to eat a nutrient-rich diet and drink at least two litres of water per day.
• Prioritise sleep: The skin is in renewal mode while we sleep, so it’s essential to get enough rest each night.
• Manage stress levels: Since the release of cortisol can trigger a whole host of skin concerns, it’s important to keep an eye on your stress levels.
• Always use sun protection: SPF is a non-negotiable since it protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays that contribute to stressed skin concerns.

If you suspect that your stressed skin is emphasising the appearance of fine lines, explore our guide on how to build an anti-aging skincare routine next.